George Crooks: How effective is an epidural?

An epidural is an injection in the back to stop you feeling pain in part of your body.

Labour is painful, so it’s important to learn about all the ways that you can manage the pain.

It's also helpful for whoever is going to be with you during your labour to know about the different options, as well as how they can support you.

Ask your midwife to explain what's available, so that you can decide what's best for you.

Write down your wishes in your birth plan, but remember that you should keep an open mind. You may find that you want more pain relief than you'd planned, or your doctor or midwife may suggest more effective pain relief to help the delivery.

An epidural is a special type of local anaesthetic and is given via a needle through the skin in your back and into the space around nerves from your spinal cord. This then reduces the pain impulses sent to the brain. For most women, an epidural gives complete pain relief.

It can be helpful for women who are having a long or particularly painful labour or who are becoming distressed. An anaesthetist is the only person who can give an epidural, and will discuss if it is the right treatment for you so it won't be available if you give birth at home.

I'VE seen films where they've used the phrase autopsy, but what is it?

An autopsy also known as a post-mortem, is the examination of a body after death. The aim of a post-mortem is to determine the cause of death.

Post-mortems are carried out by pathologists who are doctors who specialise in understanding the nature and causes of disease. Post-mortems provide useful information about how, when and why someone died, and they enable pathologists to obtain a better understanding of how diseases spread.

Learning more about illnesses and medical conditions benefits patients too, because it means they'll receive more effective treatment in the future.

If your child, partner or relative has died and a post-mortem is to be carried out, hospital bereavement officers can offer you support and advice. They also act as the main point of contact between you and the staff carrying out the post-mortem. A post-mortem will be carried out as soon as possible, usually within two to three working days of a person's death.

In some cases, it may be possible for it to take place within 24 hours. Depending upon when the examination is due to take place, you may be able to see the body before the post-mortem is carried out. After a post-mortem, the pathologist writes a report of the findings. You can arrange to discuss the results with the doctor in charge of the deceased person's care or your GP.

WHAT is Kyphosis?

Everyone has a slightly curved spine but Kyphosis is an abnormal curving that causes the top of the back to appear hunched.

In mild cases of Kyphosis, there will be no other symptoms. More severe cases can associated with back pain and tenderness. Very severe cases can cause difficulties with breathing or eating.

A physical examination by your GP can confirm an abnormal curve in the spine. They may ask you to do simple exercises or lie down in order to confirm the diagnosis. Some curved spines are associated with back posture and can be corrected by sitting correctly and exercising to strengthen the back.

Treatment depends on the type of Kyphosis, and whether the curve in the spine is causing pain or any other symptoms. Surgery is not usually required, unless Kyphosis is severe. Children with Kyphosis may find their symptoms improve by the use of a back brace.